Compression by-pass and wrench



Dec. 1, 1953 M. E. BARBER Re 23,748

con/[PRESSION BY-PAss AND WRENCH DEVICE Original Filed Dec 11. 1948 22 Il [29 l2 20 /ZO 22/3' MER/.1N EBA/EBEE JNVENTOR.. 3 34- BY A 1 f "Y I y Reissued Dec. 1, 1953 COMPRES SION BY-PASS AND WRENCH DEVICE Merlin E. Barber, Decatur, Ill.

Original No. 2,543,954, dated March 6, 1951, Se-

rial No. 64,780, December 11, 1948. Application for reissue February 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,938

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue speciication; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

5 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe fittings and more particularly to one that is insertable as a safe and reliable by-pass or conductor of the fluid in a leaking gas or other service pipe or in one before it becomes leaky, the same to be applied either in full and entire replacement or in part repair of the original pipe.

One object of the invention is to produce an eflicient and effective, practical device that is not only simple in construction and arrangement and inexpensive to produce but is also easily installed and removed as may be desired or necessary.

Another object is to construct and arrange the device as a unitary assembly in itself and in such manner that it is insertable in the service pipe from within a house or other building and requires no excavation outside, except, possibly, a small opening directly at the location of the supply main and then only in case a full service installation is to be made and it is thus. of course, necessary to disconnect the old service pipe from the main and connect thereto a substitute length of conductor pipe which is attached communicably to and extended from the outer end of the fitting unit proper.

A further object is to provide a special wrench device which is easily inserted and operated in the by-pass tting for the installation of the tting and removed after the installation is made.

Other objects and advantages to be attained will appear in the following description.

A practical but non-limiting illustration of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the unitary by-pass fitting removed from the service DIPE;

Figure 2 is a major side elevational and part longitudinal sectional view of a special elongated inner Wrench member detached but insertable in the unitary fitting assembly for effecting the setting of the fitting in and its removal from the service pipe;

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation and longitudinal section of a shorter intermediate tubular Wrench member placeable cooperatively longitudinally and rotatably slidable on the elongated inner Wrench member;

Figure 4 is a similar View of a still shorter outer tubular wrench member placeable freely rotatable and longitudinally slidable on the intermediate Wrench member;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, showing the three wrench members assembled cooperatively and inserted for operation in the unitary tting assembly;

Figure 6 is a further enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the intermediate main body tube and the two opposite end members which, in practice, are soldered, Welded or otherwise iixedly and strongly secured to said main body tube, the one end member being an internally screw-threaded nipple and the other an externally screw-threaded nozzle element;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of an internally threaded outer end collar, shown detached, but, when used, to be received rotatably fitted and longitudinally adjustable on the nozzle element shown in Figure 6, so as to clamp, compress longitudinally, and cause body-deforming now radially and annularly, of a gasket ring slipped on said nozzle element to seal the by-pass iitting in the service pipe to which it is placed in use;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the left-hand end portion of the tting assembly of Figures 1 and 5, but with the assembly installed in the service pipe and the adjacent gasket ring deformably compressed endwise and spread radially and annularly into sealing engagement with the surrounding adjacent interior wall face of the service pipe;

Figure 9 is a View similar to that of Figure 8 but of the right-hand end portion as installed and sealed within the end portion of the service that, in practice, is usually located inside the building; and

Figure 10 is a cross-section of the main stem portion of the elongated inner Wrench member, taken on or about the line I0--l l) of Figure 2.

It is here noted that gas service pipes running to the house or building from the main laid in the street or ground outside are usually made of iron or steel. Hence, in time, they become defective from corrosion, making at least partial and sometimes full replacement necessary, the accomplshment of which has heretofore required the digging of a trench outside and sometimes all the way from the premises to the location where the service line is tapped to the main. This entails considerable expense as well as the attending annoyance and the time consumed in making the repair or replacement. The present invention, therefore, is designed to make it unnecessary in some cases to do any outside excavating at all, and even if it becomes necessary to dig,

3 then only a small opening in the ground at the location where the service line is connected to the main.

It is futher noted that, in accordance with the present invention, as will herein later more fully appear in detail,v a by-pass fitting is produced as a complete unit in itself and of an overall length so that, when applied in use, it extends` v through the wall with its innerend insidefand its'A outer end an appreciable distance outside the building. In this connection, too, there is a provision of two particular annular gaskets, one adjacent each end of the unit- With means iortightening the same against theadjacent surrounding interior wall face portions of the old service pipe so as to retain the inserted lay-pass .unitin place and at the same time seal the space between `the unit and thee'service .pipe wall4 These gaskets, While servingtozhold the Vapplied:.=by`pass --unit=in place, further 'afford an reflective double seal, one outside the building wall so that, ordinarily, it alone prevents passage oflany escaping gas out-- side lfrom enteringthe buildingthrough the space between theby-'piassand rthe wall of .the old serv-- 'icpi'pe but the inner gasket is there to check any seepage of gas that may, buthardly, if ever, get bly,V the .outer seal.

Referring. now to the accompanying drawings in' detail; the 'unitary fitting assembly shown in Figures `1 and '5, .comprises a main'body tube il, prefrably'ofcopper. This tube (seeFigure 6 for clearer detail)v liaslsecured at one end (usually the innerend)4 an end member I2, preferably of brass, the attachment between the parts being by ai soldering or welding process or by any other approved fikedly fastening means. This end member I2has an externally screw-threaded, redilcdno'zzle portion I3"'and it' is axially bored for il'idflow' communication with the tubular body II:

At the opposite end (the outer end) of the tubular body II is xedly secured,.as by solderwelding. or otherapproved means, like the nieinbe'r I2', aninternally threaded collar member I4 also preferably of brass.

The'ttingtogether of the body tubev II' and the'end'parts yI2 and'l4, prior to the soldering or other'lkedly 'fastening procedure, may beandby preference" usually is bya 'screw-threaded engagerrrent'as"indicated` at Ira and I4'a in Figure 6. However, the preliminary connectionmaybe by'aplainslipLfitting of the parts, but,l in Vany case; the 'attachment' of the parts' I2 andV Ills to the body tube' II n'mstY be xe'dly secure and strong, as these three parts; as a unit in themselves, are likeA a one-piece integral. structure and; in use" are" not movable independently of e'ach' other,1v\fhereas.theseveral other parts to be hereinafter described are movable upon these parts I'I, I2fy and I4; and independently of each other.

Fitted rotatably and movabler lengthwise on thenipple-.portion 'I3of vthe endmember I2'l` is an internally .screw-threaded.; open-ended, tubular cap member.- or collar; Ifiwhich' works like a nut and v:has its. outerH end.v portion notched' diametricallyVasfat I6, for the engagement of a'key or a special wrench part to be later more-.fully described.

Sleeved normally freely movable onthe nipple portion I'3'of the end member I2,.between.an.annulalr shoulder I1 at the base of said portion. I3 (see Figure 6`for a clearer showingv of the shoulder) and the inner end of said member i (shown `in` detail and detached. in Figurev 7)- is a gasket ring I8 of a resilient material of the character of rubber which is not only non-porous and duid-resistant but is of long and indenite lasting. quality sothat it Withstands the action of the atmospheric elementsfamdfthe gas or fluid that is conducted in the service pipe in which the bypass of the present invention is applied in use.

Normally, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5 of the-drawings;,theigasket ring I8 is plain square in body cross-section, but when the by-pass fitting is inserted in the service pipe, as represented inv Figure 9 for example and designated by the reference numeral-Im and the collar1 member I5 isfturnedxanclxfmoved inwardly on the nipple portion I3 of the-'endmember I2, said gasket ring I8 is squeezed longitudinally and expanded radially and annularly into sealing contact all around with the. directly opposedinterion, face portion` of: thewseryicepipe Ist, Inrthislcompression and resultant body ow and deformation of the gasket ring the .peripheral portion thereof is spread appreciably endwise, and at .opposite ends of thering, as at 20"(s'ee Figure 9 for illustration) so that iteiiects a seal more. assuredly.

Preferably as shown (see Figure 9) leather washers 2I. are placed directly against the opposite ends of the gasket ringv I8and-between these Washers and the shoulder I1 of the part I2 and the inner endof the'collar member I5 metal washers22 are respectively interposed, the leather and metal washers obviously to minimize liability ofdamage to the gasket ring as the collar member I5 is rotated and moved into its clamping relation to said ring, the metal washers 22',` oficourse, taking the brunt of the rubbingA ac.- tion as .metal againsty metal `instead of metal directlyagainst.'rubber,v and the interposed leather Washers serving effectively as a cushioning pad or buffer.

As shownmore clearly in Figures 6 and 9, the endmember I2Which is soldered or. otherwise flxedly and strongly secured to the main body tube Il, as hereinbefore, described, is provided internally and' atsome distance inwardly from its Youterend with a'pair of'diametrically opposed rigid'lugsor studs ZSoi ample strength for slid,- able but duly secure holding engagementrwith a Working' part `of rthe hereinafter described Wrench device.

FittedA rotatably and longitudinally movable inthe collar memberl Il at the-outer end ofl the tubular main bodyvmember Il, is the' reduced, externallyL screw-threadedy nipple portionv 244 of an axially bored fitting 25preferablyof brass, as are thev several other hereinbefore described members I2, I4 and I5. This member 25, as shown, has an annular shoulder 25 (see Figure 8)l atthe-base ofi the nipple portion 24, between which and the outer end of the end collar mem-f ber I l1, a gasketr ring 2T, similar'to the hereinbefore described ring I8, is placed, said ring 2-7 having. leather washers 2.8- and metal washers 29. at-oppositezsides thereof; like the hereinbeforefdescribed;washers 2I and` `22. This fitting. 25 is provided near its outer end with a pair-of diainetrically--opposite lugsorstuds 3i! internally thereof, like those' 23.in the. end member I 2.'but for engagement by. the main part of the wrench device` to. be presently described inconnection with manipulation of the partsl Zand .I5 of` the by.pass assembly..

Itis here notedthat. the gasket ring 21 (see Figure. 8)` is compressed. endwise and deformed engagement withthewallof the service p ipe I5 5 like the ring I8 'when the by-pass unitv is applied in use (see Figures 8 and 9 for comparison).

It is further noted that, in all instances where the device or' the present invention is installed for use, the unitary by-pass assembly as thus far described is always contained in the outer Wall of the building (usually the foundation or basement wall), and, for the purpose, the particular unit used is of an overall length greater than the thickness of the wall, so that the outer end portion of the unit is projected outside and beyond the wall, especially that much of the unit in which the outer gasket ring 21 is contained and inasmuch as this particular sealing provision is primarily intended for preventing seepage of any leaking gas through the wall into the building, whereas the seal afforded bythe inner gasket ring I8 is secondary and supplemental to the outer ring 21.

The unitary by-pass assembly, therefore, in practice, may be made in different standard lengths, and it is intended so to do. These lengths, for practical adaptation and use of the invention, should vary, say for example, from a minimum of eighteen inches (18) up to approximately four feet (40") This will take care of practically all required installations. In this connection, also, inasmuch as the service pipes vary in diameter from a one-inch (1") average up to four inches (4) maximum diameter in some cases, the by-pass units ofthe present invention will be accordingly made in different diameters as Well as diierent lengths.

In some installations (in fact, in many instances) the unitary by-pass alone may be ins serted and set with the hereinbefore gasket seal effect in that part of a service pipe which extends through the wall of the building. However, the service pipe may be in such corroded and leaky condition all the way out to the supply main that a full replacement is required or desirable. In this case, of course, a length of copper pipe 3l is soldered, welded or otherwise fastened xedly and securely, leak-tight, as at 32, to the outer end of the by-pass outer-end-fltting 25 (see Figures l and 5, and Figure 8 in particular for clearer illustration). This pipe SI, of course, is unnecessary and not used if the replacement is provided only through the building wall, and, obviously,

no excavating is required except when such full n length replacement is made, and then only in the ground right at the location where the service pipe is connected to the supply main.

The principal reason for using -copper tubing in replacement of the old iron or steel service pipe is because of its high resistance to the action of the atmospheric elements and the gas or iiuid passing through the unit.

In addition to this particular advantage, there is the comparative thinness of gauge in which such tubing can be used, with ample and even excess tensile strength, together with its pliability whereby it can be rolled into a bundle of easily handled size and considerable length of tubing that can be readily inserted endwise into the old service pipe and cut off, right at the job, into the needed length to be used. Also, because ofthe desirability in avoidance of injurious corrosion, brass is used advantageously as the material of which the several ttings provided in the by-pass assembly are made.

The by-pass unitary assembly, of itself, and in the normal condition of its gasket rings, is easily inserted in the service pipe at the inner end thereof and as easily removed therefrom.

So, too, the length of copper tubing 3|,"if used in the replacement, is inserted at the inner end of the service pipe within the premises, and even pushd outward the full distance to where it is to be connected to the supply main. A mark is then put on the tubing just Where it starts protruding from the inner end of the old service pipe inside the building, after which the tubing is pulled out of the service pipe and then cut off at a distance outward from the mark about equal to the length of the by-pass unit.

The inner end portion of the lcut-off length of copper tubing 3| is fastened to the outer end of the end tting 25 of the by-pass unit with ample strength and leak-tight effect as hereinabove described. The so attached tubing is then again inserted endwise in the service pipe until the by-pass unit follows its entire length into the service pipe or until the outer end of the replacement tubing is far enough out for the coupling thereof to the supply main.

It is here noted that, to facilitate insertion of the by-pass unit and the length of copper tubing, if the latter be used, and to obtain better results, after installation, the old service pipe may be reamed to rid its interior of rust and scale.

With the connection of the replacement tubing 3i to the supply main effected and the gasket rings I8 and 21 compressed deformably into sealing contact with the interior wall face of the service pipe, the installation is completed with security against seepage of leaking gas from the service pipe into the premises, for, as herein previously pointed out, the outer gasket ring 21 alone suffices as an effective and reliable seal against passage of gas beyond its location and into the premises, but the inner ring I8 is there located with supplemental effectiveness in the event of a barely possible failure of the ring 21 as a seal.

In addition to the secondary or supplemental sealing eiect of the ring I8, there is a special advantage in the provision of rings I3 and 21, the one at the inner end portion of the by-pass unit and the other adjacent its outer end, in that, when the two rings are set, in their endwise compressed and radially outward and annularly expanded condition, as indicated in Figures 8 and 9, the by-pass unit is held securely supported in the service pipe IB.

The endwise compression and radially outward and annular expansion of the gasket rings I8 and 21 is effected by the use of a specially provided wrench device as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. This particular wrench is readily assembled and taken apart as to its own cooperative structural parts and as easily inserted and operated in the by-pass unit and after operation removed from the unit.

As shown, the wrench device comprises an elongated main or inner element in stem-like form, including a major part 33 of a relatively large diameter to enter rather snugly but freely movable in the bore of the by-pass unit, said part 33 (see Figure 10) having diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves 34 in its peripheral portion. These grooves, as indicated in Figures 2 and 5, extend the entire length of said part 33 and they are open-ended at both ends of the part.

This main or inner wrench element carries, sleeved and freely movable thereon, a second or intermediate cooperative member and a third cr outer member, also cooperatively thereon. For this reason, the major part 33 has a separate axial stem extension 35 detachably but strongly se- -for the replacement parts of the present invenlrtion.

In this way, too. as hereinbefore stated, no excavation outside the/building is necessary, except only at the location where the replacement ytube 3| is, in some instances, to be tapped into 'located outside the building. Hence, the chances of seepage of gas from the outside into the buil-' ilng are practically nil, and there is but little, if

any, liability of giving way and failure of said ring 21, because of the provision of the second ring -IB and the two rings being located one each at opposite ends of the by-pass so as to support it 'steadily and free from such vibratory and torsional movements that might tend to work the one particular gasket ring'.- 2l loose from its effectively set sealing relation to the wall of theold service pipe.

vention yas defined in the appended claims.

Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

[1. A replacement for gas service pipes and the llike, the same including a unitary open-ended tubular by-pass fitting inserted in the old service pipe, said fitting having adjacent each end a surrounding holding and sealing gasket expansible radially and annularly outward into holding and L sealing contact against the adjacent inner wall faceof the service pipe, with means in the fitting as a structural part thereof for creating such expansion, said expansion-creating means beingactuated for both the expanding effect and reversely thereof by a removable wrench device insertable for operation in said fitting-.1

[2. A replacement for gas service pipes and the like, as set forth in claim l, wherein the holding and sealing gasket is an elastic ring of the character of rubber and normally is retracted out oi holding and sealing contact with the service pipe, the means of creating the expansion of the gasket ring at each end of the br-pass fitting comprises a stationary shoulder on the fitting and an opposed longitudinally adjustable member between Which the gasket ring is placed and compressed endwise and expanded radially and angularly outward, and said longitudinally adjustable expansion-creating member and the removable wrench device having releasable inter-engaging portions whereby operation of the applied wrench device in one direction actuates the longitudinally adjustable member to effect the said compression and expansion of the gasket ring and a reverse operation of the wrench device actuates the longitudinally adjustable member to relieve the gasket ring of such compression and expansion] [3. A replacement for gas service pipes and the like, the same including a unitary open-ended vtubular by-pass fitting inserted in the old service pipe, said fitting being located in that portion of the service pipe which is passed through the wall into a building and the outer end portion of the fitting is some distance outside the wall,

the fitting having externally on its outer end portion', and also outside the wall, a ring-like holding and sealing gasket expansible radially outward and annularly into contact with the adjacent interior wall face of the service pipe so as Yto close and seal the space between the fitting and the service pipe] [4. A replacement for gas service pipes andthe like, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the by-pass fitting is of a length whereby, with its outer end portion extended a distance outside the wall of the building, its inner end is in near proximity to the inner face of the wall, and a second holding and sealing gasket, similar to the outer gasket, is provided around the inner end portion lof the fitting for effecting a duplicate sealing of the adjacent space between the fitting and the service pipe and the two so applied gaskets holding the 'fitting steadily effective in place] 5. A replacement for gas service pipes and the like, the same comprising an open-ended unitary by-pass assembly consisting of an intermediate body tube having fixedly secured at its inner end an axially bored member provided with an externally screw-threaded reduced nipple extension at its end with an annular abutment shoulder at the base of the nipple extension, said axially bored end member having diametrical key-stud provision internally thereof, a cap-collar internally threaded at one end portion and fitted adjustably on said nipple extension so as to compress an interposed rubber-like'gasket ring endwise against the abutment shoulder at the base of the nipple extension, said 'cap-collar having its other end key-notched diametrically, the intermediate body tube having fixedlysecured at its outer end an internally threaded collar member, and an axially bored end-fitting having an inwardly projected and externally threaded nipple extension with an annular abutment shoulder at the base thereof, said nipple extension fitted adiustably in the threaded interior of the collar member iixed on said intermediate body tube and having internal diametrical key-stud provision similar to that of said axially bored end member at the inner end of the by-pass assembly, the annular abutment shoulder of said outer end-fitting compressing an interposed second rubber-like gasket ring endwise against the outer end of said outer endcollar on the intermediate body tube when saidtting is screwed into the collar, the gasket rings of said by-pass assembly being compressed yby the insertion of an elongated removable wrench device into the assembly at the inner end thereof and having separate holding and rotating members with releasable provision for interlocking engagement respectively with the internal key-stud provisions of the axially bored outer end-fitting and that of the axially bored inner member which is fixedly attached to the intermediate body tube and also the key-notches of the cap-collar at the inner end of the by-pass assembly.

6. An insertable and removable wrench device for a replacement by-pass fitting such as that herein described, said wrench device to be inserted at the inner end of the by-pass fitting and comprising an elongated main or innerfstem-like member grooved externally longitudinally thereof, the grooving to ride first across. the internal -key-stud-provision adj acent-tne` inner end-ofthe by-pass fitting, then clearing such studprovision, the forward end portion of the grooving after suchclearance of the wrench part interlockingly engaging the internal key-stud `provision adjacent the outer end of the by-pass fittingfsaid main yor innerstem-like Wrench member having arr/axial rearward extension of lesservdiameter-than its longitudinally grocvedk major forward portion, said.y extension having an mtermediate or second,

.axially bored, stem-like Wrench member "iitted freely longitudinally slidable androtatable thereon with key-notch provision at its forward -end for interlocking engagement with the internal -key-studvprovision of said by-pass fitting adiacent its inne-r end, and anouter orthird Wrench member tted freely longitudinally slidable and rotatable on said. intermediate or second wrench member` and having at itsY forward enclfexternal radial .key-stud provision for interlocking engage- -ment with key-notch provision at thefrear end vof a cap-collar to be screwed forwardly on the abutment surface and normally of an outer diameter slightly less than theinner diameter of the 'service pipe; anannular compression member threddedly engagedwith `each *end* of said body in opposition to the corresponding said abutment surface and with the corresponding saidgasket ring therelnetween,I at least one seid compression member extending beyond-v itg correspondingend of 'said'body and both said mem-bers having-fa `sutnstdntiaflly unrestricted central flow passage therethrough aligned with saidbody passage; radially-extending rigidrmeansv on said body ea:- posed to said -v body passage-and'dccessible from therewithin for interengagement by complementary meanson a wrenchdeoiceremovablyfinserted inthe assembly from one end thereof to maintain-- said` body against rotation; rigidy means on said one compression member' extending radially into and accessible fromfwithin itssaidfpldssage for interengagement by complementary means on theinserted wrench device torotate said one compression member by manipulation of the wrench devicelto compress the correspond-ing gasket ring and radiallyepand the latter' into Aperipheral sealing engagement with the inner vsimn'ce ofthe service pipe; and rigid means on theV 'other of said Icompression members fori interengagement by complementary means'onftheinserted wrench` device to rotate-'said other member by manipulation of the wrenchdevice to compress the corresponding gasket ring and radially .expand the latter intoperiphenalsealing engagement with the innersurface of the service; pipe.

.8. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein thesaidrone compression member has' exterior threads engaged with interior threads on vthe body.

i 9. Y The; structurev defi-ned inA claim. 6' wherein the rigid. means on the said other compression mgm'- ber'comyrises at least'fone'slot in thefend t-hereo; remote fromA the corresponding;1 gasket ring.l

-MERLIN E. BARBER.

References Cited 1n the YfiIc-ofthis' patent or the original UNITED STATES YPA'IEN'IS 

